Turntable structure



May 11, 1948. w, N, MORRIS 2,441,436

TURNTABLE STRUCTURE Filed on. 14,-1946 INVENTOR a WILLIAM N. MORRIS ATTORNEYS Patented May 11,1948

' TURNTABLE STRUCTURE William N. .Morris, Wilmette, Ill., assignor to De Leuw, Gather & Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Applicationoctoher 14, 1946, Serial No. 703,113

This invention relates to industrial material handling equipment and more particularly to transfer mechanism for economizing the floor space in the rolling assembled railway axle-andcar-wheels units in an abrupt turn.

Railway car wheels are usually assembled in the form of units, comprising an axle and a pair of flanged wheels fixed rigidly adjacent the ends of the axle and if either wheel is damaged, the complete unit must be removed from the car and replaced by another unit. It is to the mass handling of such units that the present invention has particular reference.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved and simple form of tracklayout and turntable equipment for guiding assembled axle-and-wheels units in their movement from supply track rails to delivery track rails that are disposed at an abrupt angle to the supply rails; and to provide an improved form of turntable and guide roller assemblage which permits and causes one of the wheels of an axleand-wheels unit to pivot about a point adjacent the intersection of rails that meet at right angles to each other without interfering with the free rolling of the complete unit, while the other wheel is rolling normally along a curved rail, connecting the opposite rails and having a curvature of a radius approximately equal to the track gauge.

A specific embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a track layout for handling assembled axle-and-wheels units in which a plurality of pairs of supply tracks are arranged to feed such units to a single delivery track that extends at right angles to the supply track multiple tracks. 7

Fig. 2 is a vertical section drawn to a larger scale and taken through the turntable and, wheel guiding assemblage on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the wheel guiding assemblage illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan of the arrangement of the tracks at the place where the wheel that is distant from the pivoting wheel of the unit passes over one of the delivery rails in order to traverse the curved rail leading to the other delivery rail.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the same as viewed from the line 5--5 of Fig. l. V

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a railway car axleand-wheels unit of the type for the handling of which the embodiment of the invention shownin the drawingsis designed. I t

9 Claims. (c1.:104--.35)

.2 The particular axle-and-wheels unit illustrated in Fig. 6 comprises an axle adiacent'the opposit'e ends of which are afllxed a pair of car wheels 2, each having the usual tread surface 3 for rolling on railway rails and a flange 4 positioned to overlap the inner side of the crown of its respective rail for the purpose of guiding the wheels on the rails and preventing them from Passing ofi the rails.

'In the form shown in Fig. 1, the supply tracks are arranged in pairs of rails spaced to correspond with the standard railway gauge and having the center lines of these pairs spaced apart laterally a suflicient distance (10 inches for example) so that the track whose rails are designated 5 and 5.! and the track whose rails are designated 6 and 6.! may each carry a series of axle-and-wheel units rolling on their own wheels; and so that the units that are carried on the rails 5 and 5.!, when alternated with those carried on rails 6 and 6.! will stand in staggered relation to each other with the wheels of one unit contacting the axles of the next unit and so on, to economize track space as will be understood. f

The outer rails 5.! and 6 in this arrangement converge toward each other and merge into parallel rails land 1.! of standard gauge spacing and the inner rails 5 and 6.! diverge with respect to each other and terminate adjacent the parallel rail portions 1 and M, respectively,- with a flangeway 8 merely suflicient to permit car wheel flanges 4 to pass, as shown. It will be understood that for the greater part of their length, the pairs of supply rails are parallel and that the diverging and converging rail portions guide the units in proper sequence to the parallel track 1 and 1.!

The delivery track comprises a single pair of parallel rails 9 and 9.! spaced according to standard railway gauge and. extending at right angles to the bank of supply track rails.

The track I terminates slightly short of meeting the track 9 to accommodate a small circular turntable !0 which is tangent to the wheel flange engaging the side of the crown of the rail land as close to the adjacent edge of the crown of the rail 9 as will enable it to be clear of wheels rolling past on that rail,

As shown in Fig. 2, the top of the turntable Is!) is in flush alinement with the crown top of the rail 1; but the top of the crown of the rail 9' isat a slightly lower elevation suflicient to allow the flange 4 of a car wheel to pass over. it as The circular track portions 9.2 whichcomiect the supply rails Ll withthe delivery rail 9.l are preferably formed on a radius approximating that of the standard gauge but having its center at a.

point l offset from the axis of rotation of the respective turntable l9 and spaced from the rail 9; and this curved track 9.2 is paralleled by' a guide rail l6 positioned to engagethe inner face.

of the flange of a wheel that is traversing the at right angles to the tracks 9 and 9!, its wheels will be in proper engagement with said rails with their tread surfaces resting on the rails and their flanges in their normal position between the rails. It is apparent that the units may be fed along by gravity on suitably inclined tracks, or by a push or pull of the same and that upon their reaching the junction of. the supplytrack with the delivery track, the mechanism will automatically function.

to swing the units from one alinement to the other as described.

The foregoing description has been directed to a single embodiment of the invention but it will i be understood thatxnumerous details of the struccurved rail 9.2 so as to hold such wheel in place 7 on said rail as the Wheel rolls along the curved rail. The guide rail l6 may be an angle bar set. into the floor I! which may be flush with the rail asshow-n in Fig. 2. v e I A guide roller is is journaled on a horizontal axis in bearing brackets 19 in-positiontoengage the wheel flange 4. of a wheel mounted" on the turntable l0 and cause such car wheel to drift sidewise as it rotates with the turntable 19- into position to move across the top of the delivery rail 9. I

A second such horizontal roller'29 is journaled in bearing brackets 2| in parallel relation to the track 9 and in such position as to engagethe wheel flange 4, first to stop its advance and then to cause the wheel to slip along the roller-29 as it pivots onthe turntable until its; flange 4' passes over the top of the rail. 9 and into position to allow thetread of the wheel to come to rest on the rail 9 .as-shown by dotted'lines. in Fig. 2, The pillowblocks 21.1 of the bearing brackets 21. are set at an angle .so as to properly sustain the weight and forward thrust of thecar wheel that is being deflected by the roller 29. V

The rails 9.2'and l6 guide the other wheel of the unit in rolling relation to the tracks 9.2 and 9.! while the inner wheel, being atthis same time carried by the turntable l9 and the rollers Band 29, turns freely on its axis while pivoting on the turntable-and offers no undue resistance to the free rolling of its mate on the tracks 9.2. and 9.l.

Atthe point where the other supply rail Ll intersects the first or inner delivery rail 9, as at 22 in- Fig. 1, the top of the rail 1.! is elevated above. the top of the rail 9 suificiently to allow the wheel flange 9 to pass over the top of theraii 9 and to this end; the rail 'Ll has a lower levelshelf 23 which is welded to its side and to the side oi the crownof-the rail 9 for guiding the wheel flange and supporting the wheel after its tread has. passed the end of rail |.l.' In this case the corresponding ends of curved rails 9.2 and it are spacedaway from the crown of therail 9 suflici'ently' to allow a wheel flange to pass properly along the rail 9 through this crossing; This arrangement will'be understood from the enlarged details of Figs. 4 and5.

In operation, the Wheel units are rolled off' of the'sup'ply tracks 5, SJ, 9 and ii.i-to'tracks 'l'an'dl.| untilone wheel is stopped by the engagement of its flange with the roller 29 and iscaused to ride on and spin the turntable while the other wheel of the unit traversesthe curved track SL2. The turntable and the rollers iilzandz turn freely on their respective axes and permit the arrested wheel to rotate on its ownaxis-at thesame speed thatits. mate wheel is. rolling on the curved track. 9.2. When the; unit hasbeen swung togpqsition ture' shown and described may be altered or omitted within the scope of the invention as defined. by'the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for handling assembled axle and wheel units having flanged wheel treads comprising apair of delivery track rails spaced apart according to the wheeltread gauge of such units, a pair of supply/track railsof like spacing and disposedat an angle to said delivery track rails, a turntable adjacent; the intersection of the inner rails of said tracks, a curved rail connecting the outer rails of said tracks and being curved on a radius; approximating'the spacing gauge of said track rails'and centered at a point adjacent said turntable; and means for; holding one wheel of such unit with its tread on said turntable while the other'Wheel-traverses said curved'rail;

2. A device for handling assembled axle and wheel units having flanged wheel treads comprising a pair of delivery track railsspaced apart according. to, the wheeltread gauge of such units, a pair of supply track rails: of like spacing and disposed atan angle to said delivery track rails, a turntable adjacent the intersection of the inner railsofsaid-tracks, acurved railconnecting the outerrails of said tracks and being curveclon' a radius. approximating the spacing gauge of said tracklrailsand centered at a point. adjacent said turntable, and-roller meansv for holding one wheel ofsuch un-it with its. tread on saidturntable-while theother wheeltraverses said curved rail.

. 3. A device-for handling assembled axle and wheel units havingflanged wheel treads comprising-a; pair .of delivery track rails spaced apart 'ac cording to the wheel tread g uge o Such nit a pairof supply; track'rails of like spacing and disposedatan angle; tosaid delivery track rails, a turntable adjacent the intersection of the inner rails of said-tracks; said turntable'having its-top substantially flush with the topsurface of the respective supply rail'and having its periphery substantially tangent to the flange engaging-face of said supply rail, a curved rail connecting the outerrails of said; tracks and being curved on a radius approximating the spacing gauge of said track rails; and centered' atra point adjacent said turntable, and means for holding one wheel of such unit with its'tread. onsaid turntable while the other wheeltraverses said curved rail.

4; A device for handling assembled axle and wheelunitshaving flanged wheel treads comprisingapairioi delivery track rails spaced apart aca turntable, and guide means spaced outwardly from said turntable and positioned to engage the flange of one wheel of such axle and wheel unit to hold such wheel on said turntable while the other wheel rolls on said curved rail.

5. A device for handling assembled axle and wheel units having flanged wheel treads compristurntable, and a stop roller journalled on a substantially horizontal axis substantially parallel to the inner delivery track rail and in position to engage the flange of a wheel of such unit when resting on said turntable, said roller having its periphery in position to guide such Wheel from said turntable to said delivery track rail while the other wheel of such unit is rolling on said curved rail.

6. A device for handling assembled axle and wheel units having flanged wheel treads comprising a pair of delivery track rails spaced apart according to the wheel tread gauge of such units, a pair of supply track rails of like spacing and disposed at an angle to said delivery track rails, a turntable adjacent the intersection of the inner rails of said tracks, a curved rail connecting the outer rails of said tracks and being curved on a radius approximating the spacing gauge of said track rails and centered at a point adjacent said turntable, a stop roller journalled on a substantially horizontal axis substantially parallel to the inner delivery track rail and in position to'engage the flange of a wheel of such unit when resting on said turntable, said roller having its periphery in position to guide such wheel from said turntable to said delivery track rail while the other wheel of such unit is rolling on said curved rail, and a second guide roller journalled on an axis parallel to said inner supply track rail and having its periphery positioned to cooperate with said first named roller to hold such wheel on said turntable while the other wheel rolls along said curved track.

'7. A device for handling assembled axle and wheel units having flanged wheel treads comprising a pair of delivery track rails spacedapart according to the wheel tread gauge of such units, a pair of supply track rails of like spacing and disposed at an angle to said delivery track rails, a turntable adjacent the intersection of the inner rails of said tracks, a curved rail connecting the outer rails of said tracks and being curved on a radius approximating the spacing gauge of said track rails and centered at a point adjacent said turntable, a curved guide rail parallel with and spaced inwardly from said first-named curved rail and positioned to engage a car wheel rolling on said first curved rail so as to hold same on said curved rail, a stop roller journalled on a substantially horizontal axis substantially parallel to the inner delivery track rail and in position to engage the flange of a wheel of such unit when resting on said turntable, said roller having its periphery in position to guide such wheel from said turntable to said delivery track rail while the other wheel of such unit is rolling on said curved rail.

8. A device for handling assembled axle and wheel units having flanged wheel treads comprising a pair of delivery track rails spaced apart according to the wheel tread gauge of such units, a pair of supply track rails of like spacing and disposed at an angle to said delivery track rails, a turntable adjacent the intersection of the inner rails of said tracks, a curved rail connecting the outer rails of said tracks and being curved on a radius approximating the spacing gauge of said track rails and centered at a point adjacent said turntable, a stop roller journalled on a substantially horizontal axis substantially parallel to the inner delivery track rail and in position to engage the flange of a wheel of such unit when resting on said turntable, said roller having its periphery in position to guide such wheel from said turntable to said delivery track rail while the other wheel of such unit is rolling on said curved rail, and guide means coacting with said stop roller to hold a wheel on said turntable during the transfer of such wheel to the inner delivery rail.

9. A device for handling assembled axle and wheel units having flanged wheel treads comprising a pair of delivery track rails spaced apart according to the wheel tread gauge of such units, a pair of supply track rails of like spacing and disposed at an angle to said delivery track rails, a turntable adjacent the intersection of the inner rails of said tracks, a curved rail connecting the outer rails of said tracks and being curved on a radius approximating the spacing gauge of said track rails and centered at a point adjacent said turntable, and means for holding one wheel of such unit with its tread on said turntable while the other wheel traverses said curved rail, the inner said rail of the supply track and said turntable having wheel engaging tread surfaces at a level higher than that of the inner rail of said delivery track to provide clearance for the wheel flanges of said units.

WILLIAM N. MORRIS. 

